Paper carriage for accounting machines



Jan. 2, 1945. w A, ANDERSON 2,366,468

PAPER CARRIAGE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed March 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON ATTORNEY Ja 2, 19 5- w. A. ANDERSON PAPER CARRIAGE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed March 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON BY ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1945. w ANDERSON 2,366,468

PAPER CARRIAGE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed March 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 RETURN 7 12 WORKING 57 47 J7 j OPN f 1 V y F 015.9: J? JJRET- a V INVENTOR WALTER A. ANDERSON BY K n ATTORNEY 7 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 PAPER CARRIAGE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Walter A. Anderson, Long Hill, Conn, assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 11, 1943, Serial No. 478,821

7 Claims.

This invention relates to paper carriages for accounting machines and, more particularly, to paper-holding apparatus for facilitating insertion and removal of front-feed sheets.

Frequently, it is necessary, in the use of modern accounting machines, to print single-line postings upon each of a batch of small, front-feed forms; such as, tax assessments, water bills, and the like. In performing such work, it is desirable to have the front-feed throat opened and closed by the movement of'the carriage during its working and return strokes so that the sheets may be inserted, printed, and removed in rapid succession with but little attention from the operator beyond placing and withdrawing the sheets and indexing the amounts to be printed. The throat is formed by aconventional front-feed lip cooperating with the roller platen ofthe carriage. When the forward edge of the up is held against the platen, it securely holds the inserted sheets in position for printing operations; and when the lip is swung away from the platen, itopens the throat to permit easy insertion of the sheets.

Certain programsof work may call for insertion of sheets during the Working strokes of the carriage and removal of the sheets during the return strokes of the carriage, or vice versa;

whereas, other programs may call for insertion and removal (or conversely) during the working stroke of the carriage; and still other programs may call for insertion and removal (or conversely) during the return stroke of the carriage. Hence, it, is further desirable that the mechanism be flexibly adjustable to cause the opening and c os of the throat, to be performed in the desired sequence and to take place only at the selected point in the selected stroke or strokes of the carriage. In other words, when the program calls for opening and closing in one stroke (either working or return), it is essential that the mechanism remain inoperative during the opposite stroke. I

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of the front-feed throat by movement of the carriage, that is readily and flexibly adjustable to meet the demands of varying work programs, and that is so constructed as to be operative only during a selected stroke when the mechanism is adjusted to" open and close the throat during 'a single (working orjreturn) stroke of the carriage; U j Another object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism of the above character which is simple, inexpensive, durable, and reliably operative and which permits of the great latitude of adjustment, hereinbefore mentioned, with a minimum number of parts.

With this and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter disclosed with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

In the drawings: t

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a paper carriage equipped with the improved mechanism for facilitating the insertion and removal of front-fed sheets, the front-feed lip being shown in its closed or paper-holding position,

Figure 2 is a left side elevation of the mechanism showing theiront-feed lip opened or in paper-inserting position,

Figure 3 is. an exploded perspective view of one of the control cams that are operated by carriage movement for opening and closing the lip,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of a control cam taken on the line 4-- fl of Figure 1 and shows the cam member in its assembled position on the carriage,

Figure 5 is a detail left side elevation of a manual control lever for manipulating the frontfeed lip and shows the association of this lever with the slide that opens and closes the lip under control of the transverse movement of the carriage. I v

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 but showing the manual control lever disabled from connection with the carriage-control slide,

, Figures to 12, inclusive, are top-plan views diagrammatically illustrating the flexibility of adjustment of the control cams on the carriage for effecting the various programs of operations, hereinbefore outlined. Reading from top to bottom,,the arrangements shown are as follows:

" *1 Figure 9, closing and opening the lip during a stroke and closing the llp during a working stroke,

Figure 12, opening the lip during a working stroke and closing the lip during a return stroke.

General description The invention is illustrated in connection with the type of carriage used on the machine disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,194,270, issued to Oscar J. Sundstrand on March 19, 1940. It is adapted to be used on the typ of carriage disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,060,954, issued to Oscar J. Sundstrand on November 17, 1936 or U. S. Patents Nos. 2,185,424 and 2,275,671, issued to Walter A. Anderson on January 2, 1940 and March 10, 1942, respectively.

It will be understood, of course, that in using the present invention with the mechanisms of the above disclosures, parts may be omitted from these disclosures wherever the function or operation of those parts is inconsistent with, or unnecessary to, the operation of the present invention.

In U. S. Patent No. 2,236,588, issued to Walter A. Anderson on December 12, 1938, there is disclosed a manually controlled front-feed lip structure similar to that used in the present invention; and, in U. S. Patent No. 2,204,243, issued to Walter A; Anderson on June 11, 1940, there is disclosed a carriage movement controlled, frontfeed bail operating mechanism that is somewhat similar to the mechanism employed herein. These patents represent steps taken toward fa cilitating front-fed paper-feeding operations.

The present invention contemplates a direct control by carriage movement over the front-feed lip mechanism of Anderson 2,236,588, it having been found in practice that the lip alone is adequate to hold small forms for single-line print- Front-feed Zip mechanism Referring to Figure 1, the carriage is mounted for transverse movement along a track I by suitable roll-and-groove construction. A platen 3 is journaled at its ends in oppositely disposed side walls 4 and 5 and is arranged to be rotated either manually or structure is of the type disclosed in the beforementioned Patent 2,236,588 and comprises a lip 6 extending substantially across the front of the carriage beneath platen 3 and forming a throat between the forward edge of the lip and the platen. The lip is supported on a square rod 1, the opposite ends of which are journaled at 8 in the carriage side walls 4 and 5.

Depending ears I I and I2 are secured onrod 1 adjacent the side walls 4 and 5, respectively, and a spring i3 connected between ear l2 and side wall 5 normally tensions the rod and lip 6 clockwise causing ear H to bear against a pin l4 fixed on an arm l5. Arm I5 is secured on the inside of Wall 4 to one end of a stub shaft l6 journaled in the wall. Shaft l6 extends through wall 4 and has a manipulating lever 11 secured on its opposite end. The'lower end of arm [5 carries a pin 18 engageable by either one of two notches of a detent lever 2| pivoted at 22 to the automatically. The front-feed= inside of wall 4 and urged into engagement with pin 18 under the tension of a spring 23 that is superior to spring I 3.

When lever 11 is in the position shown in Figure 1, and pin 18 is engaged by the rear notch of detent 2!, pin l4 bears against ear H and rocks rod 1 and lip 6 counterclockwise so that the forward edge of the lip is held by spring 23 in pressure contact with the platen to hold an inserted sheet securely in position within the throat for the printing operation. When, however, lever 11 is rocked from the position shown in Figure l to that shown in Figure 2, and pin i8 is engaged by the forward notch of the detent, pin i4 swings away from ear 1 l and lip 6 swings clockwise away from the platen under the tension of spring 13 to its open-throat position, shown in Figure 2. When in this position, the clearance between the lip and the platen is ample to permit free and easy insertion and removal of the forms, the lip serving to deflect the leading edge of the forms beneath the platen during insertion.

Opening and closing the Zip by movement of the carriage The mechanism provided for automatically opening and closing the front-feed lip 6 is operated by the lateral movement of the carriage. This mechanism includes a horizontally disposed roller 24 (Figures 1 and 2) rotatably mounted on a stud 25 secured in a bracket 26. Bracket 26 is constructed and mounted on the machine frame in the manner disclosed in the before-mentioned Patent No. 2,204,243.

Roller 24 lies in the path of movement of cam members indicated generally at 21 and 28 that are adjustably mounted on parallel rods 3| in a manner to be later explained. Rods 3| are secured at each end to pendents 32 and 33 pivoted on screws 34 to the rear ends of walls 4 and 5. respectively, thus composing a swinging frame structure that supports cam members 21 and 28 for forward and rearward movement.

At the left side of the carriage, a slide 35 is pivoted at 36 to the lower end of pendent 32 and is guided for horizontal movement on a screw 31 passing through a slot in the slide and secured in wall 4 of the carriage. A tension lever 38. pivoted on screw 31 between slide 35 and side wall 4, extends rearwardly and has oppositely disposed angular cam faces 40 and 4| recessed in its lower edge, the apex of which normally engages a roller 42 secured on slide 35 under the tension of a spring 43. This lever tends to urge the swinging frame structure 21 to 32'into its normal or perpendicular position, shown in Figure 1. The forward end of slide 35 has an elongated recess, the opposite ends of which form shoulders 44 and 45 adapted to coact with a stud 46 carried by a lever 41 pivoted at 48 to hand lever I1. A spring 49 connected between stud 46 and lever I1 serves to hold the stud in either its upper or lower position against the top or bottom of an arcuate slot 50 in lever l1 through which the stud extends. construction will later be explained.

Cam members 21 and 28 (Figures 1, 2. and 3) haveoppositely disposed angularflanges 52 and 53 depending into horizontal plane of roller 24. The cam members are each pivoted on screws 54 to the bottoms of separate, identical brackets 55. Springs 56 and 51, connected between the cam members and the brackets, urge the members in opposite directions about their pivots 54 and cause the ends of oppositely disposed arcuate The purpose of this Four upstanding lugs 62 (Figure 3'), each formed near the corners of each bracket 55, are

arranged to snugly embrace the outer surfaces of rods 3| to firmly hold the brackets against displacement on the rod. An upstanding screw 63 is secured centrally of the brackets as by a nut 64 (Figure 4). A plate 65 having oppositely beveled sides and a clearance opening for receiving screw 63 is placed on the screw above rods 3| and, by means of a thumb nut, 66, the brackets may be tightly clamped in adjusted position on the rods and yet quickly and easily released for rearrangement thereon to which the relative angular dispositions of flanges 52 and 53 of the cam members in accordance with the particular frontfeed lip opening and closing program called for by the work to be performed.

Operations Assume that the cam members 21 and 28 have been adjusted to the positions shown in Figures 1 and 7, that is, with flanges 52 and 53 in V formation, as viewedin Figure 7. to open and close the lip during a working excursion of the carriage. Assume. further, that the front-feed lip B is closed and that the carriage has completed its return stroke. As the carriage moves to the left on its working stroke, the left side of flange 52 of cam member 21 contacts roller 24 and cams slide rearward to the position shown in Figure 2. This causes shoulder 45 to pull stud 46 and lever l1 rearwardly to open lip 6. The carriage continues traveling for a short d stance until it is stopped by the conventional tabulating mechanism (not shown): whereupon. as soon as flange 52 passes beyond roller 24. spring 43, through cam surface on lever 38, together with the weight of the swinging frame 21 to 33, returns slide 35 and the swinging frame to its normal or central position, indicated by dotted lines 61 (Figure 2). The space between shoulders 44 and 45 is sufiicient to allow the swinging frame assembly to return to normal and still leave the front-feed lip open.

The operator then inserts a new work sheet. enters the amount to be printed on the amount keys (not shown) and depresses the motor bar not shown), whereupon, the carriage tabulates to the columnar position wherein the amount;

just entered is to be printed. Before reaching this position, the left side of flange 53 of cam member 28 contacts roller 24 and cams the swinging frame forward to the position indicated by dotted lines 68 in Figure 2. This movement causes shoulder 44 of slide 35 to thrust stud 46 and lever l1 forward to close the lip, as shown in Figure 5. As soon as flange 53 passes beyond roller 24, spring 43, through cam surface 4| of lever 38, together with the weight of the swinging frame. returns slide 35 and the swinging frame to its normal position. At the completion of the printing operation, the carriage travels further to the left on its working stroke a sh art distance until the carriage-return clutch not shown) is automatically engaged, as explained in the before-mentioned Patent No. 2.194.270.

whereupon, the carriage moves rightwardly on its return stroke. The provision of slots 59 and 58 and springs 51 and 56 permits cam members 28 and 21 to yield and ride idly past roller 24 during the return stroke of the carriage so that the mechanism is not operated during this movement when the parts are arranged to effect opening and closing of the lip during a working stroke of the carriage.

If it is desired to change the program from opening and closing the lip during a working stroke, to a program of opening and closing the lip during a return stroke,it is only necessary to loosen thumb nut 66 sufficiently to permit the brackets to be lowered beneath rods 3| to a point where.

the upper ends of lug 62 clearthe rods and to rotate each bracket bodily 180 and reclamp the assembl in this position, as shown in Figure 8. Flanges 52 and 53 will still be in V formation, but slots 58 and 53 will be disposed diametrically opposite to the positions they occupied when arranged as shown in Figure 7. The operation is identical with that described above except that the work ng action of the cam members takes place during the return stroke, and the yielding action thereof takes place during the working stroke.

To have the lip closed and opened, during a working stroke, instead of opened and closed, the brackets are removed from the rods and each is transferred one for the other from the arrangement shown in Figure 7 to that shown in Figure 9 sov that flanges 52 and 53 are transposed to an inverted V formation which will effect the desired change in the sequence of operations. Here, the working action of the cam members occurs during the working stroke of the carriage and the yielding action takes place during the return stroke.

In a program of work calling for closing and opening (instead of opening and closing) of the lip during the return stroke of the carriage, the cam members remain in the inverted V formation, but the brackets 55 are lowered by loosening thumb nut 66, rotated 180, and reclamped on rods 3| in the positions shown in Figure 10. This reverses the positions of slots 58 and 59 from those shown in Figure 9 and thus reverses the sequence of the operations during the return stroke.

In a program of work requiring opening of the lip during a return stroke of the carriage, and closing of the lip during the working stroke of the carriage, two brackets 55 having identical cam members 28 (left) and 28' (right) are arranged on rods 3| so that their flanges 53 and 53' are in parallel angular formation with their slopes extending in a rightward direction, as shown in Figure 11. With this arrangement, as the carriage travels t0 the right on its return stroke, and the right-hand side of cam member 28' contacts roller 24, slot 59' and spring 5'! permit the member to idly by-pass the roller with resultant non-operation of the lip-opening and closing mechanism. When, however, the right-hand side of flange 53 of cam member 28 contacts roller 24. during this return stroke, the swinging frame and slide 35 are thrust rearwardly to open the lip.

During the working stroke, as the carriage travels toward the left. and the left side of flange 53 with their slopes extending in a leftward direction, Operations with this arrangement are identical with those just above described, except that the sequence is reversed due to the reversal of the direction of the slopes and the positions of the slots 58 and 587, that is, the lip is opened on the working stroke of the carriage and closed on the return stroke.

To disable the carriage-movement control of the opening and closing mechanism so that the lip may be independently operated manually by hand lever ll, the operator need only press downwardly upon an extension 69 (Figure 1) of stud 46 to move lever 41 from the position shown in Figure 5 past the dead-center position of spring 49 to the positionshown in Figure 6, This lowers stud 46 out of the path of movement of shoulders 44 and 45 and thus disconnects the lip from control by the swinging frame and slide 35.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a traveling paper carriage, front-feed mechanism thereon and cam means oppositely 0n the carriage and the frame coacting to open and close the front-feed mechanism during travel of the carriage in one direction.

2. In a machine of the class described, a traveling paper carriage, a front-feed mechanism thereon, an engaging member on the machine frame, cam members on the carriage cooperating with the engaging member and connections between the cam member and front-feed mechanism, and operated by the cam members, for opening and closing the front-feed mechanism during travel of the carriage in one direction.

3. In a machine of the class described, having a traveling paper carriage, a platen thereon, frontfeed mechanism thereon adapted to be opened and closed, and means including parts supported on the carriage and parts supported on a stationary part of the machine and cooperating to open and close the front-feed mechanism during travel of the carriage in one direction, said means being so constructed that the front-feed mechanism is not operated during travel of the carriage in an opposite direction.

4. In a machine of the class described having a traveling paper carriage, a platen and front-feed mechanism, a stationary member supported on the machine frame, cam members attachable to the carriage frame and engageable by the stationary member during working and return strokes of the carriage, a connection between the cam members and the front-feed mechanism, and means for adjusting said cam members on the carriage in various positions to effect either opening and closing or closing and opening of the front-feed mechanism during either a working or return stroke or to effect either opening of the front-feed mechanism during a working stroke and closing thereof during a return stroke or vice versa in accordance with requirements of varying work programs.

5. In a machine of the class described having a traveling paper carriage, a platen and frontfeed mechanism, a stationary member supported on the machine frame, cam members attachable to the carriage frame and engageable-by the stationary member during working and return strokes of the carriage, a connection between the cam members and the front-feed mechanism, means for adjusting said cam members on the carriage in various positions to effect either opening and closing Or closing and opening of the front-feed mechanism during either a working or return stroke or to effect either opening of the front-feed mechanism during a working stroke and closing thereof during a return stroke or vice versa in accordance with requirements of varying work programs, and means associated with the cam members for enabling the cam members to by-pass the stationary member at such times during the programs as it is unneces sary to operate the front-feed mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class described, having a carriage traveling on Working and return strokes, a roller platen and front-feed mechanism thereon, means movable in one direction for automatically opening the front-feed mechanism and movable in an opposite direction for automatically closing the front-feed mechanism during lateral travel of the carriage, a stationary member, separate cam units adapted to cooperate with the stationary member for actuating the movable means and placeable in pairs on the movable means in different combinations and relative positions for controlling the opening and closing operations in reversible sequence either during a working or return stroke of the carriage or during the combined working and return strokes of the carriage.

7. A carriage-movement-controlled front-feed throat mechanism for accounting machines, comprising a swinging frame supported on the carriage and movable in two directions thereon, a connection between the swinging frame and the front-feed mechanism to open the throat when the swinging frame moves in one direction and to close the throat when the frame moves in the other direction, a member stationary on the machine frame, two cam members cooperating with the stationary member, supports for the cam members, each of said cam members being mounted on its support in oppositely disposed relation to the other and each being mounted on its support for yielding movement thereon in one direction and non-movement thereon in an opposite direction, and means for universally mounting the supports on the frame so that the positions of the cam members may be reversed or altered on the swinging frame with respect to each other and to the stationary member for yieldingly by-passing the stationary member or coacting therewith to effect the front-feed throat-opening and closing operations in the desired sequence, during travel of the carriage in either direction in accordance with th requirements of the particular work program to be performed.

WALTER. A. ANDERSON. 

